Age Ratings Explained

Understanding ESRB, PEGI, and IMDA game guidelines

Your child hands you their phone. ‘Can I get this game? Everyone’s playing it!’

You check. The app store says 12+, a website says PEGI 7, a friend's copy has E10+ on the box. Three different labels for one game and your child waiting for an answer.

Why are the ratings different, and which one should you trust?

When choosing a movie for your child, you might check its rating to see whether it’s suitable for their age and what kind of content it contains. Game ratings work in a similar way, helping you make an informed decision before saying yes to a new game.

Why one game has different ratings

Different countries and platforms use different rating systems, while app stores display the ratings that apply to the games they distribute.

ESRB: Used in the United States and Canada. Its ratings include E, E10+, T, M and AO.¹
PEGI: Used across participating European countries. Its ratings range from PEGI 3 to PEGI 18.²
App stores: Digital games can also show age ratings through the app store you’re using. In Singapore, these ratings are used alongside the app store’s age-assurance measures.³
IMDA, Singapore's media regulator: ADV16 (suitable for 16 and above) and M18 (restricted by law to 18 and above), shown on physical games. Games that need neither are sold without an IMDA label.^4,5

You may still come across an ESRB or PEGI label on a game in Singapore. The same game can carry ratings from more than one system, depending on where and how it’s distributed.⁶

Want to know what a particular rating means? Check the rating system’s website for the full age categories, content descriptors and guidance.

How to read a game rating in 3 steps:

The Age

The age rating should not be your only decisive factor. It tells you the level of content a rating system has assessed, but not whether the game is right for your particular child. For digital downloads in Singapore, check the rating shown by the app store you’re using.*

*In Singapore: Designated app stores use age-assurance measures to help prevent children from accessing apps that are not appropriate for their age.³

⭐IRL: An age rating works a bit like the depth sign at a swimming pool. It tells you how deep the water is, but not how well your child can swim or who else is in the pool.

The Descriptors

These tell you more about why a game received its rating.^1,2 Look for things such as violence, adult content, and bad language.

The Extra Details

Some rating systems also provide information about features your child may use, such as chat, spending, interactions with other players or random-item purchases.^1,2

What else to consider

Age ratings can’t tell you everything about your child’s individual experience.^1,6 Before you say yes to a game, there are a few other things to check:

Who can my child talk to? Check chat, friend and privacy settings. [Link to article: Report, Block, Mute]
What does the game offer? Look at purchases, random items and other features that may matter to your family.
What will my child actually experience? Watch a little gameplay or ask them to show you. [Link to articles: What Parents Should Know About Games]

‘But mom, everyone’s playing it!’

A quick ‘no’ can close down the conversation before you’ve talked about the game together. Try instead: ‘Let's look at why it's rated that way.’ The same rating can lead different families to make different decisions- and that’s okay. You might decide to try a game together first, switch off certain features, set spending boundaries, or wait until your child is older.

Use the rating as one part of the picture. It can inform your decision, but it doesn’t replace your judgement about what’s right for your child.

Keep Reading: Resources for Parents

IMDA: Video Games classification: Singapore’s ADV16 and M18 ratings, consumer advice, and a link to IMDA’s Media Classification Database.
IMDA: Keeping Young Users Safe Online: How app-store age checks work in Singapore, and what they mean for your family.
ESRB: Ratings Guide: Every ESRB category, content descriptor and interactive element explained.
PEGI: What do the labels mean?: PEGI age labels, content descriptors and in-game purchase notices.
Ask About Games: UK industry-backed guides to game ratings, parental controls and individual games.